Whatever 24

Whatever 24

Enzyme Immunoassay for the Quantitative Determination of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Concentration in Human Serum

Introduction
Human growth hormone (HGH, somatotropin) is a polypeptide secreted by the anterior pituitary. It is 191 amino acids in length and has a molecular mass of approximately 22,000 daltons. Its metabolic effects are primarity anabolic. HGH promotes protein conservation and is engaged in a wide range of mechanisms for protein synthesis. It also enhances glucose transport and facilitates glycogen storage. Its cascade of growth-promoting action is mediated by another family of peptide hormones, the somatomedins. HGH measurement is primarily of interest in the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of abnormal growth hormone secretion. Disorders caused by hyposecretion include dwarfism and unattained growth potential, and hypersecretion is associated with gigantism and acromegaly.
Caution must be exercised in the clinical interpretation of growth hormone levels. These vary throughout the day, making it difficult to define a normal range or to judge an individual’s status based on a single determination. Many factors are known to influencec the rate of growth hormone secretion, including periods of sleep and wakefulness, exercise, stress, hypoglycemia, estrogens, corticosteroids and L-dopa. Because of its similarity to prolactin and placental lactogen, earlier growth hormone immunoassays were often plagued with falsely high values in pregnant and lactating women.
Because not all acromegalic individuals have elevated baseline levels of growth hormone, suppression tests based on glucose loading are of value in this context. In spite of the induced hyperglycemia, there is rarely a decrease from baseline levels in acromegaly.
Growth hormone-deficient individuals have fasting and resting levels similar to those found in normal individuals. Various challenge tests have therefore been devised to differentiate them. For example, with...

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